Matrix Audio - X-SABRE Pro

joeinid

joeinid

Super Moderator
Joined
Apr 4, 2013
Messages
18,722
Location
NY
This dac seems like it'll be amazing. Has anyone heard it?

Matrix Audio - X-SABRE Pro (MQA)

1_191TN12.jpg
 
Some doubters will say the delta-sigma ESS chip will keep it out of the higher echelon of DACs...
 
I believe this DAC has been available for a few years now, unless this is an updated version. There are several on line reviews.

Cheers.....
 
Would love to hear / audition one of the higher end Matrix products. As was indicated above, they appear to measure very well. I've heard fewer subjective listening reviews, and of course they aren't sold by many bricks and mortar retailers. I do wonder if some of the energy or life of the music gets lost in the quest for measured perfection, but at the same time the engineer in me says mathematically perfect conversion can only reveal the truth of the source material. Hence the need for an audition with otherwise familiar gear! :)
 
I have had many Sabre Dacs. The Matrix has zero of the traits of being digital sounding as many Sabre DACs has been ridiculed with. On the contrary it sounds very smooth and analog'ish (didn't want to use the same cliche but couldn't find a better one) . Its not the best of the resolution and if you are looking for hyper-details, look elsewhere. Is it the best Sabre Dac at any price point ? Off-coarse No but if I am looking for a Sabre DAC at this $2k price range, I will not look elsewhere.
 
So in other words criticism of the Sabre DACs is misplaced, and should be directed at other parts of the chain than the DAC chip itself? One might notice that in fact there is a 9038Pro at the heart of my system...
 
It looks like a pretty good value. Appears to be prices at about $2300?

It would be nice to see more companies start using ESS's latest audiophile chip. My A&K has this chip and the AKM flagship DAC in it. I personal prefer the AKM, but there is not a huge difference between them.
 
rbbert said:
So in other words criticism of the Sabre DACs is misplaced, and should be directed at other parts of the chain than the DAC chip itself?
Click to expand...

Sabre DAC can sound very digital and has that glare/sheen. How you implement a DAC chip, power supply, clocks, analog stages, isolation around it are more critical in how a DAC sounds than the chip itself and Matrix Audio is a great example of an excellent implementation at a very decent price point, IMO.
 
Different DAC chips will obviously sound different. Any change in hardware sounds different, however minor it is. My point is for a given DAC chip, the chip itself is less important in deciding the overall sound of a DAC. In other words, the same DAC chip in two different implementation can sound drastically different.
 
Randy Myers said:
It would be nice to see more companies start using ESS's new 9068 flagship chip.
Click to expand...

Not flagship. ESS product naming is not that higher is better. Need to check the specs and chip price (although difficult to find). ES9038PRO and the mobile ES9038Q2M are also completely different products.

This ESS product page clearly specifies that ES9038PRO (as used in the DAC being discussed in this thread stated in post #1) is the flagship. So there is no fear of being obsoleted by something newer and better (because it's only newer but not better).
ESS Technology :: Audiophile DACs
 
Speaking of this DAC, I had it on loan a while back and yes it doesn't have that ESS harshness some talk about . Even had Peter ( Lumin) provide me with the connection methods to use the Pro with my Lumin. I found the bass solid, the midrange neutral and this dac in my system ( connected xlr's to my W4S STP-SE) was clean, detailed ,not harsh. I didn't play any DSD just PCM files from my USB drives and also used my CD drive.
 
I have this DAC in my collection.
Sorry I meant to add it really is not a bad sounding DAC. I think the MQA has some merits after hearing it fully unfolded with the Matrix. It is on the analytical and dry side but for the money is excellent. Not close to my terminator plus but very good with similar characteristics.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top